Page 71 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

Endocarp is formed of islets of isodiametric sclereids with thick pitted
lignified sinuous walls one islet over the cavity of each giant cell and separated by
thin-walled parenchymatous cells.

2- Dissepiment:
It shows an epidermis formed of thin-walled polygonal cells, the cuticle of
which is raised by secretion of reddish oily drops containing sometimes crystals of
capsaicin. The remainder is parenchyma traversed by vascular bundles.

3- Seed:
The seedcoat consists of an epidermis formed of yellowish very large
sinuous-walled cells with characteristic thickening on the inner tangential and
radial walls. The remainder is a collapsed nutritive layer. Endosperm is formed of
polygonal cellulosic parenchyma containing fixed oil and aleurone grains.

4- Calyx:
The most characteristic tissue of the calyx is the upper epidermis which bears
numerous clavate glandular hairs and few covering hairs of one or more cells.
Mesophyll contains numerous idioblasts of sandy crystals of calcium oxalate.

5- Pedicel:
Epidermal cells are axially elongated showing cruciferous stomata and
clavate hairs, pericyclic fibers isolated or in small groups perimedullary phloem
with fibers in the border.

Powder
Powdered capsicum is yellowish-brown to brownish red with a strong
characteristic sternutatory odor and strong fiery pungent taste. It is characterized
microscopically by:
1. Numerous fragments of characteristic outer epidermis of the seedcoat
formed of lignified cells with thick sinuous lignified walls.
2. Fragments of the endosperm with polyhedral cells containing globules of
fixed oil and aleurone grains.
3. Scattered reddish oily droplets.
4. Fragments of the outer epidermis of pericarp formed of rectangular thick-
walled cells arranged in rows and covered by striated cuticle.
5. Fragments of parenchyma showing scattered idioblasts of
Microsphenoidal crystals of calcium oxalate.
6. Fragments of sclerenchymatous islets of endocarp formed of isodiametric
cells with lignified and pitted sinuous walls.
7. Few fragments of calyx and pedicel showing the glandular clavate hairs.
8. Few small vessels and fibers but no starch granules.

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